EU offers Google a deal

The European Union's antitrust chief offered Google a deal to settle an investigation into allegations of anti-competitive behaviour.

Google has said that it wants to sort out the whole matter amicably after the Commission launched investigation into Google in November 2010. Rivals accused the company of manipulating search results and promoting its own advertising services while demoting their rivals'.

EU Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said regulators were as keen as Google to avoid lengthy proceedings. Google has repeatedly expressed to him its willingness to discuss any concerns that the Commission might have without having to engage in adversarial proceedings, he said.